Topics: Politics, Russia, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, US News, Ukraine
Donald Trump has answered whether or not he trusts President Vladimir Putin as he continues to express his frustration with the Russian leader.
Trump and Putin have had a love-hate relationship since the beginning of his first presidential term in 2016.
However, when Trump took over the White House in 2025, things began to change, and tensions have since arisen in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.
During the 2024 presidential election campaign, he insisted he could end the war between the two countries within his first 24 hours back in the White House. He made calls for a ceasefire and even had many discussions with Putin over the phone, but the war rages on.
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Since then, Trump has issued tariffs on Russia, threatening that they'd be 'very severe' if a deal with Ukraine were not reached, and said in a cabinet meeting on July 8 that they 'get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin'.
Now, he's opened up about his relationship with Putin, revealing whether or not he trusts him.
Following the meeting with NATO's Secretary General, Trump spoke to BBC reporter Gary O'Donoghue and shared his confusion about not having yet reached an agreement to end the war.
"We'll have a great conversation. I'll say: 'That's good, I'll think we're close to getting it done,' and then he'll knock down a building in Kyiv," he said. "I said: 'What the hell was that all about?'"
O'Donoghue then asked Trump if he was 'finished' with Putin, to which the president replied: "I'm disappointed in him, but I'm not done with him. But I'm disappointed in him."
He was asked if the assassination attempt had changed him, and Trump responded: "I don't like dwelling on it because if I did, it would be, you know, might be life-changing, I don't want it to have to be that."
Then, when he was asked if he trusted Putin, he replied: "I trust almost nobody to be honest with you."
Last week, leaked audio tapes show that the former businessman had previously tried a different tactic as, according to CNN, Trump was speaking to wealthy donors at an event before his second run as president, where he reportedly said: "With Putin I said, 'If you go into Ukraine, I'm going to bomb the s**t out of Moscow. I'm telling you I have no choice.'
"And then [Putin] goes, like, 'I don't believe you.' But he believed me 10%."
Russia has since denied claims that such a conversation took place, however.
In a major turnaround, the president has also expressed how he will be helping Ukraine fight off Russian soldiers.
He confirmed on Sunday (July 13) that the US would send air defence systems to Ukraine, stating: "We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need. I haven't agreed on the number yet, but they're going to have some because they do need protection."
